Ex-Liberal minister from B.C. joins Harper

Former Liberal industry minister David Emerson has jumped ship to become a Conservative cabinet minister.

The Vancouver-Kingsway MP is the new Conservative minister of international trade, with responsibilities for the Vancouver Olympics and Pacific Gateway.

The 60-year-old former banker, businessman and economist was elected as a "star" Liberal candidate in the riding of Vancouver-Kingsway in 2004, was appointed to Paul Martin's cabinet and was re-elected as a Liberal last month.

The fact that he had switched parties first became apparent when he showed up at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Monday morning to be sworn into the Stephen Harper cabinet.

Emerson was formerly B.C.'s deputy minister of finance. He also served as president of the Western and Pacific Bank of Canada (now Canadian Western Bank), the B.C. Trade Development Corporation and Canfor Corporation – B.C.'s largest forestry company.

He also oversaw the expansion of Vancouver International Airport during the 1990s.